Marble game.



I? wan Patented Dec. 5, I899;

C. R. BENNETT.

MARBLE GAME.

(NO Modem pplication filed Apvr. 28, 1899.)

llwirnn STATES PATENT Orrrcnt CHARLES R. BENNETT, OF TULLYTOWN, PENNSYLVANIA.

MARBLE GAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,436, dated December 5;, 1899.

Application filed April 2 8, 1 8 9 9 To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES R. BENNETT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tullytown, in the county of Bucks and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Marble Games, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to marble games, and more particularly to that type of game commonly known as bagatelle-boards; and the object of the invention is to provide certain new and amusing features in connection with this form of game-board not heretofore employed and which will add greatly to the pleasure and amusement of the players.

Briefly stated, the invention comprises a game-board provided with two inclined bottom or base surfaces located in different vertical and horizontal planes, the lower edge of the upper inclined surface terminating at a point above the rear edge of the lower inclined surface to provide an intermediate drop or ledge between the said surfaces, over which the marble or projectile falls or drops in its passage from one inclined surface to the other, and in an improved form of shooting paddle or counter, with means thrown into operation by the marble for disengaging the shooting means, whereby the paddle or counter will be thrown into the air, much to the amusement and pleasure of the players.

The invention further comprises other features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter to be referred to and then more definitely pointed out in the claims.

In order to enable others to make, use, and play myiinproved game, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a plan View of a gameboard constructed in accordance with my invention, certain of the covering parts being broken away or removed to better illustrate certain features of the operating mechanism. Fig.2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same, taken on' the line x 00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of one of the shooting-paddles.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the lower or base surface of the board, which is slightly inclined, as shown,

Serial No. 714,896- (No model.)

and is supported and slightly raised at one end by a cross piece 2. The said base-surface is surrounded or closed upon opposite sides by side walls 3 and at its lower or front end by a wall 4:, the rear end being closed by the said cross-piece 2, the parts being combined and arranged to form a box-like struc-. ture, as will appear in the drawings. Secured to the top edge of the cross-piece 2 and extending rearward therefrom is a second inclined surface 5, which is supported at its outer side edges by extensions 6 of the side walls 3, and at the rear end of said surface 5 is a vertical wall 7, all as clearly shown in the drawings. From the above description it will be seen that a game-board is provided having two inclined surfaces located in different vertical and horizontal planes, the lower edge of the upper inclined surface terminating at a point above and slightly in advance of the rear edge of the lower inclined surface to provide an intermediate drop or ledge 8 between the said surfaces, for a purpose presently to appear.

Arranged to one side of the board and extending about half-way up the same is an alley or way 9, and at the lower end of the said alley is located a spring gun or piston 10, having an operating-handle or finger-piece 11 projecting through an elongated slot 12 in the side wall 3 of theboard to allow the said spring gun or piston to be retracted and shot forward, as is Well understood.

Located at a point intermediate the ledge or drop 8 and lower wall4 of the board is an elevated bridge comprising the bottom piece 13, sides 14, and top 15, said top and bottom pieces being each provided with a plurality of slots or openings 16 and 17, respectively, the slots or openings 17 in the bottom board being larger than those in the top board, as will appear from an inspection of the drawings. This elevated bridge contains and supports the shooting paddles or counters, which form an important part of my invention and which will now be described. To the said bottom piece 13 of the bridge is secured a transverse rod 18, and to this rod is secured a plurality of spring-arms 19, corresponding to the number of slots or openings 16 and 17, said spring-arms being each formed of wire and having one end 20 coiled or crimp 22'to form a seat'or'rest for one'of the shooting paddles or counters, hereinafter to be described. Extending transversely across each slot or opening 17 in the bottom of the bridge is a rod or wire, and loosely hung upon each of said wires isa locking-finger 23, provided with a depending trigger 24 and an engaging shoulder 25, adapted to take over the front bar 21 of the spring-arm 19 to hold the latter depressed under the tension of the spring-coil20and in a position to be shot upward when the trigger is operated to dis engage atheshoulder 25 from the front bar 21. The upper end of the locking-finger'adjacent to the shoulder 25 is bent'upward and outward, as at 26, soas to form an engaging piece for the front bar 21 of the spring-arm in order :to cause said frontloar to make contact with theoutward bent end 26 when the spring-arm is moved downward to-its set position,'and thereby to automatically rock the said finger and bring thelocking-shouldcr 25 into engagement with the front bar 21, and thus retain the spring-arm in position ready to 'be shot or sprung upward. The setting of the spring-arm is accomplished by means of the paddles or counters, as will hereinafter appear.

The counting parts or points to be gained when playing the game are arranged as follows: The :upper inclined surface 50f the board haslocated at about the center thereof a bell 27, surrounding which is a series of pins or obstructions 28, and the lower inclined surface is provided with a numbered dlial-face'29, in the center of which is a pivoted pointer 30,, which latter when in position for play is located on a line 31, taken transversely across the board, so as to be in a position to be struck by the ball oranarble 32 when the latter is projected, andthus spinor move the pointer to oroverone of the :numbers on the dial, which thus counts so m any for the player making the shot.

'l helshooting paddles or counters 33 each bear a suitable number corresponding to. a similar number opposite the slots in the top board in :the bridge, and when in position'for play theyare inserted through the slots .16 in i the saidtop board of the bridge, so that their "lower ends will rest or seat in the ,crimped or downward-bent portions 22 of the spring- To reset the spring-arms after they have been released-and s.hot,.it is simply nec- 1 arms.

essa'ry to insert the paddle in position and force thesame-downward until the shoulder on locking-finger snaps or falls over the front a bar on the spring-arm, which will then retain said arm, together with the paddle or counter-,in position for further play.

Having thus fully described the 1construction of the game-boardand its various parts, I will now briefly describe the manner of playing the game.

Any number of persons from one to five or more may join in the play, and the object sought to be accomplished byeach is to make the highest number of points with one or more shots, as may be determined upon by the players. Assuming now that the marble or ball has been placed in position in front of the spring gun or plunger, the first player retracts the latterand shoots or projects the ball forward, which rolls up the alley and over andupon the upperinclined surface,and if by chance the bell should be struck the first count of, say, twenty-ii ve would be-made. The ball or m arb'le then .rolls down and over the ledgeioiwdrop and :fallsiuponzthe'lower iinclined surface, where it continues .to roll toward the .front end of the board. If,:perchance, the ball 'or imarble shouldstrike :one of the triggers controlling :the shooting -paddles or counters, this willbe instantly shot into vthe air and a second'count will he made. The ball :Inaythencontinue in its course, and if it should encounter :and strike the pointer a third count will be made. Then the next player will continue this manner of play, and so ,on untilall have hadone or 'more shots, as maybe previously determineduspon. The person at the end of sthe game liaving the highest numbervof points to his or :her credit will be designated the winner.

By my improved game it will :be seen that it is possible to make three separatecounts during the one shot, and thisrarrangemen't affords considerable amusement, as will vbe obvious.

Having thus -d escribed myinvention,what I claim is-- 1. A game-board having two inclined "basesurfaces located indifferent vertical andehorizon ta l planes, the lower edge of the upper inclined surface terminating at :a point :above the rea-r edgeof the lower inclinedsurface to providean intermediate dropor ledge between said surfaces, and suitable ,pointwind icators or counters upon each of said base-surfaces.

2,. 'A gameaboard having two inclined :loasesurfaces located in different verticaliandrhorizontal planes, the lower edgeof theupperiinolin ed surface terminating :at a point :above the rear edge of the lowerfincl'inedsunface to provide an intermediate drop or ledge between said surfaces, a bell mounted zu-ponone of said surfaces, .a counting-dial or pointer upon the other surface, and means for pro- 'jecting aKma-rble upon the-said upper'surface.

3. A game-board having two inclined basesurfaces located indifferentvertical'andhorizontal planes, the lower edge of the upper inclined surface terminating at a point above vthe rear edge of the lower inclined surface to provide an intermediate drop or ledge between said surfaces, suitable point-indicators or counters carried by each of said surfaces, and means for shooting a marble or projectile upon the upper inclined surface, for the purpose specified.

4. A game-board having two inclined basesurfaces located in different vertical and horizontal planes so arranged as to provide an intermediate drop or ledge at the adjacent ends of said surfaces, means for projecting a marble over said surfaces, a plurality of shooting-paddles freely supported above one of the inclined surfaces, and means for projecting said paddles into the air, said projecting means being thrown into operation by the marble, substantially as described.

5. A game-board-having two inclinedbasesurfaces located in different vertical and horizontal planes and arranged to provide an intermediate drop or ledge at the adjacent ends of said surfaces, means for projecting aball or marble over said surfaces, a plurality of spring-arms supported transversely across and slightly above one of the inclined surfaces, a trigger for each spring-arm, and a paddle supported by each of said spring-arms and arranged to be thrown into the air thereby, when the triggers are actuated by the ball or marble.

6. A game-board having two inclined basesurfaces located adjacent to each other in different vertical and horizontal planes and arranged to provide an intermediate drop or ledge at the adjacent ends of said surfaces, suitable point-indicators or counters carried by each surface, means for projecting a marble upon the upper inclined surface, an elevated bridge arranged transversely across one of said surfaces, a plurality of spring-arms mounted upon-said bridge locking-fingers for holding said spring-arms depressed, a downwardly-extending trigger carried by each finger, and a paddle freely supported upon each arm and adapted to be thrown or shot into the air thereby, when the triggers are actuated by the marble.

7. A game-board having two inclined basesurfaces located adjacent to each other in different vertical and horizontal planes to provide an intermediate drop or ledge at the adjacent ends of said surfaces, suitable pointindicators carried by each surface, means for -d1e, a locking-finger for each spring-arm, a

trigger carried by each finger, the lower end of each trigger being arranged adjacent to one of the inclined surfaces, and a paddle freely supported upon each spring-arm, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A game-board having two inclined basesurfaces located in different vertical and horizontal planes, thelower edge of the upper surface terminating ata point above the rear edge of the lower surface, a bell and surrounding pins on one surface and a numbered dial and pivoted pointer on the other surface, means for projecting a marble upon the upper surf ace,an elevated bridge arranged transversely across one of the inclined surfaces, a plurality of spring-supported paddles freely mounted upon said bridge, and means for throwing said springs into operation to cause the paddles to be shot upward away from the bridge.

9. A game-board having a suitable inclined surface or surfaces, means for projecting a ball or marble over said surface or surfaces, a plurality of spring-arms arranged in a row transversely across the board above the surface thereof, means for holding said arms depressedin operative position, a shooting-paddle freely supported upon each arm, and a locking-finger for each arm, the parts being arranged to operate, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES R. BENNETT.

Witnesses HENRY Lovnrr, FRANK UARLEN. 

